Convertible right- and left-handed scissors



Feb. 23, 1932.

CONVERTIBLE RIGHT AND LEFT HANDED SCISSORS Q. W. H ERSHEY Filed Aug. 8, 1931 IN VEN TOR.

Quincy Wife/"5kg ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 23, E932 ares QUINCY w. HERSHEY, F rzrrsnnnen, PENNSYLVANIA rates CONVERTIBLE nxenr- AND LEFT-HANDED sorssons Application filed; August 8, 1931-. Serial no. sta s-s.

Myinvention relates to reversibl fingera and-thumb-operated scissors, shears, cigar clippers, orithe like, whichI shall designateiby the generic term scissors., and it has; particle larrelation to scissors which are reversible in suchmanne-r as to be-suited for convenient operationby either the right hand or the left hand.

Scissors are normally constructed with two blades, each. withone-cutting edge- These blades are known as the; finger blade? and the thumb blade,-and arem-anipulated by a; finger or fingers and the thumb respee. tively. The finger blade is provided, for this purpos with a fingershole-or eye, and the thumb blade is provided with a thumb hole oreye. l

The ordinary right-hand scissors: have eyes of such shape-astofacihtatethe nor mal actof; closing the thumbzand fingers. of the. right hand, which-forcesthescuttingedges together, thethnmbblade being toward the mesial plane of the user. X Vhen su-c-hscissors are held in the left hand, however, not only do the thumb and finger'eyes not fit the anatarmy of the left hand, but the finger blade, rather thanthe thumb blade, is toward the mesial plane of the-user, so thatthe normal act of bringing the thumb and fingers to.- gether tends to force thecutting edges apart,- causing difiiculty in cutting. T

Accordingto my invention, certain changes have been made in the normal design of'lscissors,and the blades havebeen made reversible. in such manner that the scissors may be comfortably, efficiently and conveniently operated with either hand-thereby avoiding the difficulties hereinabove pointed out,,a11 as will-be subsequently described and claimed with, referenceto the accompanying drawings, wherein I p v Fg. lis an exploded" plan view of a pair of scissors embodying my invention in a preferred form, with the two blades separated, Fig. 2 is a sectional View on a plane indicated by the line III'I in Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a front elevational View of the scissors shown in Fig. 1, the same being assem- 1 bled for use with the right hand,

1 Fig-(dis an end elevational view of the scissors shown in Fig. v I i Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional View through the pivot. pin, as indicated by thes'ectiom: line V' V in, Fig. 3., p 1 Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are views,,corresponding to Figs. .3, 4 and 5, respectivel. butsho'wing my scissors assembled for usewith the left hand, and p I V j Figs. 9 and :lOare enlarged sectional views so; illustrating modifications. f -:-My scissors have agfing'erbladell and. a thumb blade 12, 'piv'otally joinedby apivot pin 13, and allof these parts-are of abnor-' maldesign. .05

The blade :part of the finger blade 11, as wellas the partnearthe pivot, is of thin triangular section, as shown in Figs. 2,15 and 8, so'asto form a single cutting edge 14(at the bottom), which is effective when the other 7.0 blade orvthumb blade). 12 is disposed against either ofthefiat side surfaces 15- or 16,0f the finger blade rwhichis now being described. This finger blade 11 also has a finger hole or eye 17 which is. shaped to receive one or several fingers,preferablyseveral fingers, as

shown in Figs. 3 and 6, and the .hole through this finger eye is preferably inclined from both sides, to fit the fingers of either hand, which is readily accomplished because of the extra thickness of the finger eye, as shown in Figs dead-Z. Thefingereye l'Zis dropped down lower than usual, in the vertical plane, as shown in; Figs. 3 and6, for a purpose which will be subsequently explained; a p f 4 The blade part of the thumb blade 12 is substantially -triangular in section, or. it may be, and preferably is, trapezoidal in section, as shown in Fig. 2. Theessentialthing is that it shall have two cutting edges 18 and '19, anda single operative surface 20 which may bedisposed against either one of the two operative surfaces 15 or 16 ofthe aforedescribed. finger blade 11. Thethuinb blade is sharpened. on both its topand bottom edges 18 and 19 ,and when I designate it as having a substantially trapezoidal section I'intend to indicate this construction, even thoughthe section may be more nearly triangular than trapezoidal. g

. thumb, the hole The portion of the thumb blade 12 near the hinge pin 13 is preferably of substantially or more nearly rectangular section, having a wide flattened portion to receive the head of the pivot pin, as indicated in Figs. 5 and 8, and, for convenience of reference, I shall designate the end which merges into the cuttingedge 18 by the numeral 18 and the edge which merges into the cutting-edge 19 by the numeral 19.

The thumb blade 12 has a thumb hole or eye 21 which is shaped to smoothly fit the through it being properly inclined, in accordance with the normal position of the thumb, somewhat as usual, but it is disposed substantially centered with respect to the median horizontal plane of the blade-portion of the thumb'blade 12, as indicated by the center-"line 22 in Figs; 3 and 6.

The pivot pin 13 makes a detachable pivotal connection of the thumb blade 12 on either side of the finger blade 13, with the same surface 20' of the thumb blade flat against the finger blade, in either event. In

the embodiment of my invention shown in Figs. 1 to 8, the pivot pin 13 is carried by thefinger blade 11 and extends out, on both sides of the blade, at right angles to its respective operative surfaces 15 and 16, as indicated at 25 and 26, respectively, in Figs. 4, 5, 7 and 8, the pin being bent for this purpose. Each of the pin-extensions 25 and 26 has a narrow oblong head 27 which normally holds the thumb blade 12 in place against the finger blade 11. The thumb blade 12, however, has a pivot-hole having oblong enlargements 28 (Fig. 3) through which the narrow oblong head 27 of the bent pin 13 may pass when the scissors are opened wide with the blades at substantially right angles. It will be understood, of course,-.that the pivot-heads 27 may be, and ordinarily would be, countersunk in the thumb blade 12, so as to occupy no additional space, but such countersinking has been omitted, in the illustration, in the interests of .clearness. I In operation, the thumb blade 12 may be assembled with its single operative surface 20 against the front surface 15 of the finger blade11, as shown in Figs. 3 to 5, in which case apair of right-hand scissorsis formed, with the cutting edges 14 and 18 in use. Or the thumb blade 12 may be removed andre placed withv its single operativesurface 20 against the back surface 16 of the finger blade 11, as shown in Figs. 6 to 8, in which case a pair of left-hand scissors is formed, with the cutting edges 14 and 19 in use.

By reason of the center-line positionof the thumb eye 21, this member extends substantially the same distance below the centerline 22 in either position of the thumb blade. When the scissors are converted from righthand to left-hand adjustment, the thumb blade is simply rotated about 180 around its center-line 22, and moved from the front surface 15 to the back surface 16 of the finger blade 11. The downward drop of the finger eye 17 is such as to accommodate this thumb eye, which abuts against the top of the finger as indicated at either 30 or 31 in Figs. 4 and 7, thus limiting the closing movement of the scissors. The rotation of the thumb blade about its center-line also reverses the inclination of the hole through the thumb eye 21, as will be seen by a comparison of Figs. 4 and 7, so that thethumb of the other hand may comfortably be thrust therein, with the inclination of the hole proper also forcausing the operative surfaces of the cutting portions of the blades to be pressed closely together. 1

The essential requirement of the pivotconnection 13 is that it shall detachably hold the two blades together with the single operative surface 20 of the thumb blade 12 held fiat against either one of thetwo operative surfaces 15 or 16 of the finger blade 11. Any form of pivotal attachment that accomplishes this purpose may be utilized.

Thus, as indicated in Fig. 9, the pivot pin 33 may in which case it extends on only one side, and is straight instead of being bent. It is perpendicular-to the single operative surface 20a of the thumb blade 12a, and extends into a double-frusto-conical aperture 34in the finger blade 11a, said aperture having enlargements enlargements 28 of Fig. 3 for receiving the narrow head 3570f Fig; 9. The frusto-conical aperture34permits the pin33 to enter, from either side, at right angles to the surface, 1500 or 16a, through which it enters;

Fig.10 shows a stillfurther modification of the pivot-pin connection wherein the triangular-sectioned blade 11?) has a large hole 37 for receiving a pin 38 having'a headed portion 39 V to the vertical center-line 40'ofthe triangular section; The head 41 of the large pinsection 39 is inclined, so as, to rest against the lateral face 42 of the triangular-sectioned be carried by the thumb blade 12a,

(not shown) similar to the of large cross-section removably' fitting in said hole 37, whichis perpendicular ido los

shown in Fig. 3, through which the narrow head-portion 44 may be removedwhen the scissors are opened, as previously described.

When the trapezoidal-sectioned blade 127) of Fig. 10 is removed, the entire pin 38 may be backedout through the here in the triangular-sectioned blade 115,- and it then be replaced from the other side, as will be obvious. The hole 37 and its fitting pinpart 39- are preferably non-circular insection, so as to force the pin to be put in in he proper position. The pin 38 preferably has a spring- Washc-r 47 encircling the large pin-section- 39 next to its head 41 and preferably'permm nent-ly attached thereto, as by having atab 452 bent down in-toza notch 43 in the pm, as shown in Fig. 10; 1

In the foregoing specification, as well as in the appended claims, when I speak of the finger blade 11 having-a single cutting edge 14, I mean that the bottom :edge of each of the operative surfaces 15 and I6 constitutes a cutting edge, and that these cutting edges are close together, if not exactly geometrically perfectly coincident.

The hereindescribed and illustrated em bodiments of my invention are given by' way of example, to. set forth the principles thereof. I intend that the appended claims shallbe broadly construed, inaccordance with the state of the prior ar I claim as my invention:

1, Convertible rightand left-hand scissors comprising a finger blade having a-singl'e cutting edge and two operative surfaces, a thumb blade having two cutting edges and a single operative surface, and pivot-means for detachably holding the two blades together with the single operative surface'of the thumb blade held flat against either one of the two operative su'rfacesof the finger blade; i

2. The invention as 'specifiedin claim 1,

characterized by said pivot-means compris-v ing a bent pivot-pm earned by the fingeu providetwo extens ons perpendicubladeto lar tof said two operative surfaces of said finger blade. r v

35The invention as specified in claim 1,

" characterized by said pivot-means compris-- ing a pivot-pin carried by said thumb blade at substantially right angles to its operative surface, the finger blade having a pivotaperture of substantially double-frusto-coni said finger eye being larger than said thumb eye, Elisabetta-read s havin holesawhich are ineli ned and shaped to comfortably fit the anatomy of thehand in the intended use of-theseissors. v i v *6. The i-nvention as specified in claim l,

characterised by the'ithumbblade having a thumb eye substantially centered with respect to the center li-ne through its bladeportiomfthe finger blade having a finger'eye suitablyfidepressed toaccommodate thethumb eye in -either positions-t the thumb blade, the

thumb eye having: ahole which is inclined in a single direction, sothat, by reversing the thumb blade, it is made to fit the inclination of either thumb and will help to holdthe ci-ittin'g edges together in either case. p

'7 invention as specified in claim 1,

characterized by the thumb blade having a thumbeye substantially centered with respect to the center-line through its blade-portion, the inger blade having afin-g er eye suitably depressed to-accommodate the thumb eye in either position of the thumb blade, the thumb eye having a hole which is inclined in a single direction, so that, f by reversing the thumb blade, it ismade to fit the inclination of either thumb and will-help to hold the cutting edges together in eit-her case, and the finger eye being thicker than the thumb' eye and having a doubly" inclined hole to accommodate the finger-position of eitherhand;

a Convertible lightand left-hand'scissors having afinger blade with a substantially triangular cross-sectionand afthumb blade With-a substantially t rapezoida'lcrosssection. I 9-. Gonvertib le=rightand left-handscissors h avi ng-a'firigerbladewith a substantially tri-g angular cross-section and a thumb blade with asubstantially trapezoidal cross-section and pivot-'meansior detachably holding the two blades together with the wide surface of the ezoida-l-sectioned blade held fiat against one or the other-of the two side surfaces of the triangularsectioned blade;

10. Cenvertible right and left-hand scissors "comprising a finger bladehaving two,

operative surfaces, a thumb blade havinga single operative surfacesharpened at both its toped'ge and its bottom edge, and pivotmeans for detachably holding the two blades together with the single operative surfaceof the thumb blade held flat against either one (tithe-two opera-tive surfaces of the finger blade,thethumb' blade having a thumb eye s-ubstantiallycenteredwith respect to the cen ter-liinethrqlffi its'bladeeportion. 11. fienvertihl'enrightand left-hand scis sor comprising a 'fin'geiblade having "two I operative surfaces, a thumb blade having a single operative-surface sharpened at both its top ecl'ge andi-ts bottom edge, and pivotmeans t er detachably holding the two blades "together-with the single operative surface-of the thumb blade held flat again-st eitherone of the two operative' surfaces-oit the finger blade, the thumb blade having-[a thjumb eye characterized by one bladehaving a pivotpin having a narrow elongated head, the other blade having a pin-aperture having an enlargement for receiving said head when the scissors are openediwide. I

14. Scissors comprising, a finger blade,a thumb blade and a pivot-means therefor, said finger blade having a substantially triangular cross-section througho'utthe length of its cutting portion and portion nearthe pivotmeans and having a; single cutting edge at theqapex of said. triangulansectiomsaid pivot-means being operativeuto hold the thumb blade againsteither side of said tria'n: gularsection forming the cutting edge. 15. Convertible right andleft-hand scissors comprising two blades detachably pivoted together, characterized by one of said blades having a substantially triangular cross-section, and the other of said blades being reversible around a longitudinal line, and disposable on opposite, sides of the first mentioned blade. l l 16. Convertible right and left-hand scissors comprisingtwo blades detachably pivoted together, characterized by1one of said blades havingja substantially triangular cross-sectiomand the other of said blades be ing reversible around a longitudinal line, and disposable on opposite sides of the. first-mentioned blade,andfurther characterized by one of said blades having an eye which is substantially centered with respect to the medianv horizontal plane of its blade-portion,

the other blade-having an" eye which is suit ably dropped to make room for the first-mentioned eye. v 1

17 Convertible Lrightef and left-hand scissors comprising two blades detachably .piv-' oted together, characterized by: one of said blades havingv a substantially triangular cross-section, and the other of said blades being reversible around. a longitudinal line, and disposable on opposite sides of the firstdisposable on opposite sides of the firstqnentioned blade,- the reversible, blade having an eye which is substantially centered with re: spect to the median horizontal plane of its blade-portion, theother bladehaving an eye which is suitably dropped to make room for the first-mentioned eye, and further characterized by the substantially centered eye having a hole of a single inclination, and the othereye having a doubly inclined hole.

19. Reversible scissors comprising a substantiallytriangular-sectioned blade, a substantially trapezoidal-sectioned blade adapted to be pivoted theretowith its large flat side against either one of the two lateral surfaces of the triangular-sectioned blade, and a selflockingreversiblepivot pin for detachably joining said twoblades, comprising a headed portionhaving a large cross-section removably fitting in a hole in the triangular-sec tioned blade, the head on said portion being inclined, and a reduced portion of smaller circular section and at an angle to theaXis of the large section, said reducedportion termi nating in a narrow head-portion, at right angles thereto, which lies within the confines of an extension of the lateral surface of said large section. the trapezoidal-sectioned blade having a pivot-hole 'for' accommodating said reduced pin-section and having anenlargement for receiving said narrow head-portion. 20.; The invention as specified in claim 19, characterized by aspring washer non-removably secured to said large pin-section next to its head. v J [In testimony whereof, I havehereunto subscribed my name this 4th day of August, 1931.

. E QUINCY W. HERSHEY.

mentioned blade, the reversible blade having an eye which is substantially centered with respect to the median horizontalplane of its i .7 blade-portion, the otherblade having an eye which is suitably dropped to make room for V v a the firstmentioned eye. v 

